Tautumeitas: ‘We hope to leave the audience feeling empowered and connected to their roots.’
With Latvia’s preselection, Supernova, kicking off tonight, our very own Joe B was able to catch up with Tautumeitas, the folk pop group hoping to earn the country’s ticket to Basel with the chant-like Bur man laimi. Among other things, the band talked at length about the inspiration they take from nature, the experience of filming a music video in a cold forest at night, and their connection to former Eurovision songs.
The semi-final of Supernova, which Tautumeitas will be performing in, takes place in Riga tonight, starting at 8:10pm CET on LTV1. You can remind yourself of the song by watching the music video HERE:
To start us off, who are each of the members of the group, and how long have you all been together?
We are six musicians who sing, play instruments, dance and express themselves and their cultural heritage. Three of us – Asnate, Aurēlija, Laura, have been in the group since the beginning ten years ago. Three years ago Gabriēla joined our group. Kate and Annemarija are our latest members. Asnate and Aurēlija are sisters, they come from a family, which cherish and study Latvian folklore. Also Kate’s family is into folklore. Others have found a way to play traditional music by themselves.
Your music brings together Baltic folk traditions with more modern genres. What, in your opinion, makes Baltic music so special, and what inspires you to write music?
It’s so special because our traditional music has lived through hundreds, maybe thousands of years. It’s ancient and authentic. Not all countries have such treasure. Our inspiration comes from our love towards folk music and our life in modern days. We draw inspiration from nature, traveling, other forms of art and artists, from everything that happens – good and sometimes sad – around the globe.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but your group name translates to ‘daughter of the nation’. Where did this come from, and what does it mean to you?
Literally, your translation is correct. It’s an old word and it used to refer to almost any young girl. Nowadays people only refer to a girl wearing a national costume as ‘tautumeita’ and other than that this word isn’t used anymore in our language. We chose it, because – really, in the beginning we met to sing authentic traditional songs. Later we took it as our mission to show our fellow Latvians that any young girl who carries her ancestor’s wisdom and uses it in her daily life, blends it with what’s important to her today and carries the knowledge in the future – she can call herself a ‘tautumeita’.
With the success you already have, including albums that have charted in the World Music Charts, what sparked the decision to compete at Supernova and try for Eurovision this year?
It is a great opportunity to promote our band to a bigger audience and also a lot of people reached out to us asking when we will take part in Supernova. So it’s both that made us make this decision.
Now let’s talk about your song for Supernova: Bur man laimi (‘A Chant for Happiness’). For a song with so few lyrics, it’s really impactful and addictive – for our readers who don’t speak Latvian, what’s the meaning behind the song, particularly the image of the tree?
The song is about a person’s ability to be happy, self-sufficient, confident in times of need, but decisive and confident in their choices. We have knowledge that has come from our roots for generations. Our knowledge and confidence is like there is a world tree growing inside us – an oak, with fire at the top. Oak is a symbol of the cosmic tree, associated with the heavenly deities. It contains divine energy. This divine fire and divine energy comes from the roots and strives to the top, encompassing the entire world. We share it with others, because happiness is essentially energy.
You recently brought the lyrics to life when you released the music video for this song. Who was responsible for the visual design of the video, and what was that creative and filming process like for you?
The process was truly magical, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the amazing team that brought the vision to life. We had a fantastic creative collaboration, and it was incredible to see the concept come together so beautifully. We trusted the creative process to director Dārta Apsīte (“Studio Ausme”), who brought the entire team together. We had already collaborated with her on previous music videos, so we knew she would create absolute magic. Costume designer Laura Anspoka (“Novaliss”) crafted costumes inspired by our music and is currently working on new costumes for our Supernova performance. The delicate crowns were made by crown master Brigita Stroda, and the fairy face masks were actually created by our group member Aurēlija Rancāne. These are just a few of many, but you can find the full creative team listed under our video on YouTube. Filming in a dark forest on a cold November night definitely added an element of challenge! The weather was tough, but it somehow made the experience even more memorable and intense. There was something about the atmosphere of the forest that matched the vibe of the song perfectly, and I think we all fed off that energy. Despite the cold and the late hours, everyone was so focused and passionate — it really made the whole experience unforgettable.
When it comes to Supernova and Eurovision, half the deal is having a good staging concept to convey the message of the song in 3 minutes. Without giving away too much, what can we expect from Tautumeitas on-stage at Supernova?
Our Supernova performance will be a powerful and inspiring experience, encouraging viewers to believe in themselves and their strength, and to take pride in their cultural heritage. We aim to create a captivating and dynamic show that embodies the resilient spirit of our song, Bur man laimi. Expect a blend of traditional elements with a modern twist, showcasing the enduring strength and beauty of Latvian culture. We hope to leave the audience feeling empowered and connected to their roots.
Which of the other songs in this year’s Supernova are you most excited to see on stage? Do you know any of your fellow participants, or had the chance to meet new ones yet?
We all like the song The Water by Bel Tempo and Legzdina. So we are excited to see their performance. And yes, we know mostly all participants. With Legzdina we have a special memory: back in 2023 we sang our song Raganu nakts at her concert in Glastonbury festival.
Now let’s talk about the endgame of Supernova: the Eurovision Song Contest. Are any of you particularly ardent Eurofans? What are the songs / performances from previous years that have stood out to you?
Our drummer, Nelli Bubujanca, might be the biggest Eurofan, but honestly, all of us enjoy watching Eurovision. It’s fascinating to see how the songs and performances reflect what’s happening in the world and society at the time. It’s like a snapshot of the cultural moment, and you can see so many different creative expressions coming together. We definitely enjoy those show-stopper moments – like the outstanding energy from Bambie Thug (Ireland) last year, who really brought something incredible to the stage. But we also appreciate something totally different, like Maro (Portugal) with her beautiful song Saudade, Saudade from 2022. It was so unique and poetic, and it really stood out for its emotional depth. For us, though, the most important thing is always the message. We’re drawn to songs with a deeper meaning. It’s about connecting with people on a more personal level, sharing something authentic and meaningful through music. That’s the kind of energy we hope to bring to the stage ourselves!
If all goes well, what would it mean for ‘daughter of the nation’ to represent their nation, Latvia, on the international stage in Basel in May?
Oh, it would mean the world to us! We feel it as our mission to show our culture, our language and our music beyond the borders and hope that Latvians feel proud for what they are and how really rich their country is.
And now onto some bonus fan questions to get to know the band better…
If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?
We all like Måneskin, so maybe them? Really tough question!
What are your favourite activities to do when you’re not performing?
We all love to be in nature. A few of us enjoy gardening. For some it would be a walk in the forest or by the sea. We also enjoy spending time with our loved ones. So it’s people and nature we love.
Does anyone in the group have any pets?
Yes, almost all of us do! Or we “share” our childhood pets with our parents. Laura has ten animals at home – two cats and eight ducks 😊 We love, respect and inspire from nature.
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat to us, Tautumeitas! To finish, could you please leave a message for all your new fans discovering you through Supernova?
To all our new fans discovering us through Supernova, we’re so excited to have you join us on this musical journey! We hope you’ll enjoy our blend of traditional Latvian folk music and modern pop, and that our songs will resonate with you. Bur man laimi carries a powerful message of resilience, encouraging you to stay true to your values and persevere despite challenges. We believe this message is universal, and we hope it inspires you as much as it inspires us. We’re passionate about sharing our culture and music with the world, and we’re grateful for your support. We can’t wait to perform for you at Supernova and beyond!
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